Page 37 of Finding Emotion

“Besides, it’s all Mandy stocked since we chased her off so quickly this morning.” She dragged out her phone, glancing at the time. “The hour she gave us is almost up.”

Damon realized Jimmy was still hovering at the edge of the living room, his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Good morning, Skylar,” Jimmy said.

She cocked her head as she looked over at him before waving him closer. “Don’t worry about me. You and Damon have plans today?”

“I need a place to practice,” Damon admitted.

Jimmy grimaced. “I was stupid to think you’d just rest and hang out with your friends while you were in town.”

“You know what they say about all work and no play,” Skylar cut in. Her lips spread as her gaze slid down his body. “Though you did already get to play.”

Damon’s mouth went dry. A part of him wanted to scoop her up and carry her to the bedroom, Jimmy be damned. Of course, Skylar’s control issues wouldn’t like that too much either. He cleared his throat and looked away. “Playing can be fun.”

Jimmy laughed. “Whew! Save all that for when the paparazzi are around.” He sat on the couch opposite her.

There was no reason Damon should have felt annoyed. Jimmy had had a thing for Skylar long before the past few days, he reminded himself.

“I think Skylar’s got your number already, Dame.” His manager leaned closer to her. “He can be pretty dull.”

Skylar sipped at her smoothie. “Dull wouldn’t be the word I’d use.”

Some of Damon’s tension eased. “Hey, didn’t you say you found a studio that first night? Where was it again?”

“The college. I’m sure Mandy could—”

The elevator dinged, and Skylar’s manager walked out looking as put together as she had before. Damon avoided her eye, worried his face would get even redder.

Skylar pushed up from the couch. “Speak of the devil. Hey, Mandy, Damon needs a place to practice.”

Jimmy scrambled to rise, too, his hands running over his hair. “I already checked out the college. They’re the ones booked until noon.”

“That’s because I booked them,” Mandy said, studying his manager through her glasses before glancing at Skylar. “I like to keep my client’s creative habits in mind.”

Skylar waved her off. “I’m good today.” She strode over to latch onto Damon’s arm. “Actually, why don’t we share? It’s not normally my thing but”—she leaned up, her breath flowing over his ear—“I’ll try anything once,” she whispered.

Damon was going to be in trouble if everything she did made him hard. His hand lifted to his neck where the hair tingled. “I appreciate the offer,” he started, already picturing how little he’d get done with her around.

Jimmy stepped forward. “That’d be a lifesaver.” When Damon glared at him, the man’s eyes shifted to Skylar. “Come on, man. Give a little.”

Damon shoved his hands in his pockets, annoyed with the puppy-dog hope he saw on his friend’s face. Jimmy was just excited to flirt with Skylar while Damon himself was busy working.

They’d never been into the same woman before. Oh, there’d been situations where the groupies were into Damon, but he’d always encouraged a shift in direction whenever he spotted Jimmy’s own interest. He hadn’t really wanted any of them, while Jimmy could easily become a little obsessed with someone. Damon flushed at the thought. He’d never seen that possibility in himself before. Not that he was ready to admit he wanted Skylar, at least not out loud, but Jimmy must have known. Hell, his manager knew he rarely hooked up with anyone.

Skylar was staring at him. “You in?” She looked pleased at the idea of it, but a little nervous as well, as if she expected him to reject her.

Damon didn’t want her to look that way. “Yeah. I need to practice the song for the performance.” He narrowed his eyes on Jimmy. “Especially at the venue itself.”

Jimmy tensed. “I told you, I’m on it.”

“Isn’t your performance at The Crystal Villa on the outskirts of town?” Mandy tilted her head. “I would think your sister would be able to help if there’s been some sort of difficulty. Her husband has become partners with the owners. The Kirpatricks, wasn’t it?”

Skylar beamed at her manager. “Isn’t she just the best?” She glanced at Jimmy. “Want Mandy to help?”

“I’m sure Jimmy reached out to Erin already,” Damon said, though by the angry flush that had taken over Jimmy’s face, he was positive that was a lie. Still, he knew what it was like to feel embarrassed only too well. “She’s the one who connected us to the charity event.”

“Yeah, I’m on top of it.” Jimmy glared down at his phone as he started messaging someone.